Shoestring with gripping regions

ABSTRACT

A shoestring made from elastically deformable silicone defines a constant taper between opposite end portions and a center portion, is narrowest at the center portion, and increases in size in an axial direction between the center portion and each end portion. The center portion may be configured with a length which is approximately one half of the total length of the shoestring. The end portions may each be configured with a length which is approximately one quarter of the total length of the shoestring. Each end portion may also define a convex end with a tapering cross-section in an axial direction away from the center portion, and may be colored differently than the center portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/060,497, filed Aug. 3, 2020 and titled AESTHETIC SHOESTRING WITH GRIPPING REGIONS, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to shoestrings, and more particularly, to shoestrings having variable cross-sections for aiding knot formation and preventing knot slippage.

2. Description of the Related Art

Shoestrings, shoelaces, and other forms of laces for footwear (herein, “shoestrings”) are used to tighten and secure sneakers, shoes, boots, etc., to a user's feet. Each shoestring typically includes separate strings woven together into a flat elongated weave structure. Each end of the weave structure includes a plastic sheath (e.g, an aglet) which encloses and compresses the end of the shoestring. The sheath provides rigidity and durability to the weave structure, and assists a user with gripping the shoestring to tie a knot and/or lace a shoe when the user feeds a shoestring through eyelets or loops in the shoe. Once the user laces the shoestring through the various eyelets, he or she then pulls each end to tighten the lacing, usually while wearing the shoe. The user then creates and crimps a knot from the ends of the shoestring atop the shoe, thereby maintaining a desired tightness level. Shoestrings are typically made from textured polyester, spun polyester, nylon, and/or polypropylene. The aglet is typically made from a hard plastic configured to be pushed or pulled through the eyelet.

Although both children and adults learn how to tie shoestrings at a very young age, and often do so daily, when they employ the process described above, various problems can arise that result in the shoelaces loosening or becoming completely untied. Such unintentional loosening and untying often requires refitting, retightening, and retying of the shoestrings, particularly when knots users have tied (e.g., bow knots) slip during use.

Shoestring knots can come untied for a number of reasons. For example, the length of the shoestring at one end may be relatively short. This causes the user to create a bow knot with one shoestring end too close to the center of the knot, a condition which allows that end to slip through the center of the knot. Additionally or alternatively, other portions of the knot (e.g., the inner portions of the loops of the bow knot) may slip during use due to a lack of friction between tied portions of the knot. When the shoestring is wet, this increases the overall surface contact area of the knot, which can actually improve the grip thereof despite the difference between the coefficient of static friction for a wet shoestring and that for a dry shoestring. However, as the shoestring is repeatedly exposed to water over time, the individual strings of the weave can expand, contract, and/or loosen, which can degrade the shoestring, and ultimately, cause additional knot slippage. As shoestrings repeatedly become wet and dry, their quality wears. This coupled with repeated tension, compression, and other forces applied to the shoestrings may cause them to break as the forces between individual strings of the weave changes.

For young adults engaged in sports and other activities, older adults rushing through their daily grind, and children with limited attention spans, untied shoelaces are relatively common. Improvements are thus needed in the art which help maintain shoestring knots, increase shoestring durability and longevity, and enhance the overall wearing experience.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is not intended to identify or point to essential features or limit the scope of the subject matter claimed herein. The present invention relates to shoestring systems and methodologies with at least the following objectives:

To facilitate lacing and tying of shoestrings in a manner that prevents knot slippage;

To provide a shoestring having an adjustable length, greater durability, and a customizable aesthetic appearance;

To provide relatively large gripping surfaces for grasping and tying a shoestring;

To provide a shoestring with a varying cross-section along center and end portions thereof for improving knot stability, customization, and aesthetic appearance;

To provide a customizable shoestring adorned with various indicia, insignias, colors, and the like; and

To enhance the overall experience of tying and wearing shoestrings on various types of footwear.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a shoestring includes a center portion, a first end portion on a first side of the center portion, and a second portion on a second side of the center portion opposite the first side. The shoestring is made from elastically deformable silicone, and defines a first taper from the first end portion to the center portion, and a second taper from the second end portion to the center portion.

In certain embodiments, the first and second tapers may be constant and identical to one another such that the cross-section of the shoestring is symmetrical about the center portion, and increases in size both from the center portion to the first end portion and from the center portion to the second end portion. In certain embodiments, each of the first and second end portions may include an additional taper in an axial direction toward a convex end. The additional taper may be a constant or nonuniform. A portion of the convex end may define a cross-section no larger than a cross-section of the center portion.

In yet other embodiments, the center portion may be colored with a first color, and each of the first and second end portions may be colored with a second color different from the first color. The intensity of the second color may increase in the axial direction along each of the first and second end portions, away from the center portion, to further highlight the end portions.

Various other objects, advantages, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of related structural elements, and the combination of parts and economies of development and manufacture, will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon consideration of the detailed description below with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings are not intended to limit the scope of this invention, which is set forth with particularity in the claims as appended or as subsequently amended, but merely to clarify and exemplify the invention. Accordingly, a further understanding and a more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant aspects thereof may be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, where:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a shoestring in accordance with the invention, including a center portion having a first color, two colored end portions having a second color, and a pair of aglets at respective ends of each end portion;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a shoestring similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1A, but with different colored center and end portions;

FIG. 2A is a side view of the shoestring of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the center portion of the shoestring of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of one end portion of the shoestring of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a shoestring in accordance with the invention, showing a center portion having a first color, and two colored end portions having a second color and tapered ends with no aglets;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of a shoestring, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3A, but with different colored center and end portions;

FIG. 4A is a side view of the shoestring of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4B is an enlarged view of the center portion of the shoestring of FIG. 4A; and

FIG. 4C is an enlarged view of one end portion of the shoestring of FIG. 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a stretchable shoestring which, in both relaxed and unrelaxed states, has a cross-section which varies along its length. The cross-sectional size of the shoestring gradually increases from a center/middle portion thereof toward and through all or part of end portions on opposite sides of the shoestring. The shoestring is preferably entirely made of, or at least partially made of, an elastically deformable silicone material or silicone rubber material which, in a relaxed state, returns to its original length, shape, and size after stretching, compressing, torsion, and/or bending thereof. The silicone shoestring may be formed in a variety of lengths depending on the shoe type and shoe size needed.

During use, when a user ties a shoestring knot, the larger dimensions of the shoestring at each end (e.g., the larger gripping regions on end portions of the shoestrings, which have larger cross-sections) and the elasticity/compressibility of the silicone material create a stronger and more durable gripping force over a larger contact area of the knot. This effect combined with the silicone material itself (which has a relatively high coefficient of friction) and the tapered cross section of the shoestring reduces or prevents slippage of a knot tied in the shoestring. Since the cross-sectional area of the shoestring increases from the center portion toward the end portions, a knot which slips will catch additional material (e.g., more material with more surface area will need to pass through the knot for the knot to come undone), which enables the knot to resist slippage during use.

Since woven strings wear down over time, use of silicone material helps prevents erosion, saves money, and increases the longevity of the shoestring. As the shoestring described herein is preferably made from silicone, it is also non-porous, and thus minimizes or prevents the shoestring from carrying harmful materials or residue such as contaminated water, viruses, and the like.

In certain embodiments, the variance of the cross-sectional size of the shoestring may be constant per unit length (e.g., the shoestring may define a constant increase or decrease in cross sectional area, circumference, or a dimension along a given axial length). This provides a constant taper between a center/middle portion of the shoestring and each end portion of the shoestring. The constant taper gives the shoestring a unique aesthetic appearance which may be further enhanced through customized coloring of the center and end portions of the shoestring as further discussed below. In other embodiments, the taper of the shoestring in certain sections between the middle portion and the end portions thereof may be nonuniform. The shoestring coloring may be customized, for example, to advertise and/or show support for a particular sports team, club, league, or organization.

The present invention is particularly useful for children, as they tend to be less focused on tying their sneakers correctly, and more focused on the appearance of their sneakers and/or the activity at hand. The aesthetic appearance of the shoestring and the coloring along different sections thereof help to focus children on the tying process, and on highlighting a particular brand, athlete, team, or individual expression. The shoestring described herein may also be utilized by professional sports teams, leagues, etc., to promote their brands.

The shoestring is also useful for adult footwear, sneakers, dress shoes, boots, and the like. As formal dress shoes tend to have shorter, narrower shoestrings, they are more likely to slip during use. In such embodiments, the taper of the shoestring may be adjusted so that the visible portion of the shoestring remains thin and/or has a constant cross-section, whereas a small portion of the ends of the shoestring may be configured with larger cross sections for better gripping and knot formation with larger surface contact areas. Alternatively, the taper of the shoestring may be constant, even for formal dress shoes, between the central and end portions thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1A, a shoestring 10 in accordance with the present invention includes a center portion or center region 12, a first end portion or end region 14, a second end portion or end region 16, an aglet 18 at first end portion 14, and an aglet 20 at second end portion 16. Shoestring 10′ (FIG. 1B) is identical to shoestring 10, except that corresponding portions of shoestring 10′ are formed with different colors than those of shoestring 10. For example, first and second end portions 14, 16 of shoestring 10 may be colored yellow and center portion 12 of shoestring 10 may be colored black, while first and second end portions 14′, 16′ of shoestring 10′ may be colored blue and center portion 12′ may be colored red. Aglets 18, 18′, 20, 20′ may be silver, gold, or clear colored, and respectively extend from, collinear with, ends 14, 14′, 16, 16′. Other colors and color combinations of shoestring 10 may be utilized.

In certain embodiments, the particular colors utilized in shoestring 10 may be more pronounced (e.g., more intense) at end portions 14, 16 than at center portion 12, whereby end portions 14, 16 are more visible to a viewer from far away, and more prominently displayed (See also, FIG. 3A, further discussed below) since end portions 14, 16 may be used to form a knot when the user ties his or her laces. In other embodiments, color intensity of the end portions 14, 16 may increase in the axial direction away from center portion 12. In yet other embodiments, the color intensity utilized on center portion 12 may be more pronounced than on end portions 14, 16. Different colors and color intensities may be utilized at different regions of shoestring 10 for customization purposes.

As shown, shoestring 10 may be tubular or conically shaped with a tapering, generally circular or elliptical cross-section between first end portion 14 and center portion 12, and between second end portion 16 and center portion 12. Shoestring 10 may be constructed to be narrowest at center portion 12, progressively thicker toward end portions 14, 16, and may be configured with a constant taper from center portion 12 to each end portion 14, 16. For example, the increase in the diameter of the cross section of shoestring 10 along a unit length (L) of the axis of shoestring 10 may be constant (e.g., a steady increase) between first end portion 14 and center portion 12, and between second end portion 16 and center portion 12. It will be appreciated that this constant taper provides shoestring 10 with a unique aesthetic appearance and symmetry, both in relaxed and unrelaxed (e.g., stretched) states.

It will also be appreciated that the constant taper of shoestring 10 between center portion 12 and each end portion 14, 16 provides shoestring 10 with symmetry about center portion 12. Thus, when shoestring 10 is gripped at gripping regions (e.g., at end portion 14, 16) and stretched (e.g., placed in tension), it will experience relatively identical elastic deformation on both sides of center portion 12. Additionally, the cross section of center portion 12 will thin out as shoestring 10 stretches, and thus will be even less visible than end portions 14, 16, which will also elongate and thin out. Center portion 12, despite thinning out when stretched, will still be functional for its intended purpose of gripping the tongue and shoe between eyelets along the tongue of the shoe. Since the center portion 12 is not grasped by the user when tightening the shoestring 10 or when tying, for example, a bow-knot, the fact that it is comparatively thinner (and even more so during tightening) is inconsequential to its function, yet allows the shoestring 10 to be elongated in the event that one end of shoestring 10 (e.g., a region at the axial end of end portion 14 or end portion 16 which needs to be tied into a knot) is relatively short. In such situations, either of end portion 14, 16, which each have larger cross sections than center portion 12, can be further stretched.

Other cross-sectional shapes (e.g., a flat rectangular cross-section) may be utilized with a similar taper along the length of shoestring 10 or particular sections thereof. In yet other embodiments, shoestring 10 may be defined with a taper on one side of center portion 12 but not the other side, or with a taper along particular axial and with no taper along other axial segments.

As discussed above, shoestring 10 may be made from elastically deformable and compressible silicone which, when placed under tension, torsion, and/or bending, has a spring bias toward its original shape (e.g., the relaxed state shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B). Shoestring 10 is preferably made from 100% silicone (e.g., 100% vulcanized silicone, pure silicone, etc). Silicone composites (e.g. silicone plus other suitable materials) may alternatively be utilized. Thus, when shoestring 10 is threaded through a standard eyelet, first and second ends 14, 16 may compress to fit through each eyelet, and spring back to their full size once pulled through the eyelet. Additionally, shoestring 10 may elongate when pulled at each end 14, 16 during lacing and tightening as described above.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2C, it will be appreciated that center portion 12 of shoe string 10, which is defined with a smaller cross-section than that of first and second ends 14, 16, is configured to interface with a standard or non-standard tongue on a shoe, and that ends 14, 16, which have relatively larger cross-sections, may be grasped by the user and tied with larger gripping regions. The increased cross-sectional size of ends 14, 16 create more surface area contact over which forces are applied when a bow-knot is tied using ends 14, 16 (and thus help prevent knot slippage). The decreased cross-sectional size of center portion 12 also reduces material requirements and the weight of shoestring 10 while maintaining the functionality thereof.

In one embodiment, shoestring 10 may have an overall length of approximately thirty-three inches (e.g., 32.8-33.2 inches), an outer diameter of approximately 0.25 inches (e.g., 0.23-0.27 inches) at a midpoint 22 thereof, an outer diameter of approximately 0.6 inches (e.g., 0.58-0.62 inches) at each end 14, 16, and aglets 18 having a length of approximately 0.5 inches (e.g., 0.48-0.52 inches) and an outer diameter of approximately 0.28 inches+/−0.02 inches. Thus, the outer diameter of aglet 18 may be equal to or slightly larger than that of midpoint 22 of shoestring 10.

It will be appreciated that in this embodiment, the outer diameter of midpoint 22 of shoestring 10 is slightly less than half of the outer diameter of first and second ends 14, 16, and that the diameter of shoestring 10 may increase slightly more than half an inch between center portion 12 and each end 14, 16 over a distance of approximately 16.5 inches.

It will be appreciated that the length and diameter of shoestring 10 may be varied, and that other dimensions and shapes may be utilized in accordance with the dimensions of standard eyelets for sneakers and boots. For example, for hiking shoes, shoestring 10 may have a length of 45 inches and be configured with a similar taper along the length thereof to provide even thicker ends. It will also be appreciated that when shoestring 10 has a circular cross section along its length and a constant taper in the size of a radius thereof between center portion 12 and either end portion 14, 16, a circumference (C) of shoestring 10 in a relaxed state will vary as a function of:

ΔC=2*π*Δradius

between center portion 12 and each end portion 14, 15, where AC is the change in circumference, π is equal to approximately 3.14, and A radius is the change in the size of the radius. Thus, if a constant taper is desired between and along center portion 12 and end portion 14, and between and along center portion 12 and end portion 16, then the overall length of shoestring 10 will impact the size thereof at end portion 14, 16 where shoestring is tied. It will be appreciated that when creating or customizing shoestring 10, if a particular size/radius is desired at end portions 14, 16, as well as a constant taper in the cross-section and a desired minimum cross-section/radius at center portion 12, then the magnitude of the taper (e.g., the change in radius or circumference over a given length of the shoestring 10) can be deduced using the formula above.

In certain embodiments, shoestring 10 may be configured to receive items which hook onto each end portion 14, 16 to personalize shoestring 10. The larger thickness of end portions 14, 16 provide greater surface area to adorn the knot portion and ends of shoestring 10. For example, sports teams may advertise team names, logos, indicia, and/or emblems on shoestring 10. Shoestring 10 thus provides enhanced gripping and knotting capabilities, increased durability and longevity, material reduction, tightness adjustments, and a unique yet modifiable aesthetic appearance.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-4C, in another embodiment a shoestring 100 may be configured with all of the same characteristics and material(s) as shoestring 10 described above, except that colored end portions 114, 116 may be proportionately longer than end portions 14, 16 of shoestring 10, and colored center portion 112 may be proportionately shorter than center portion 12 of shoestring 10. For example, colored end portions 114, 116 may each be approximately one quarter of the total length of shoestring 100, and colored center portion 112 may be approximately one half of the total length of shoestring 100. Colored end portions 114, 116 of shoestring 100 may be two to two and a half times longer than colored end portions 14, 16 of shoestring 10. Other lengths and proportions of end portions 114, 116 and center portion 112 may be utilized.

As shown, shoestring 100 may be configured without aglets, and instead have convex ends 118, 120 (See FIG. 4C) made from the same material as center portion 112 and ends 114, 116. Convex ends 118, 120 may be tapered in the axial direction (in the direction away from center portion 112) to be smaller in diameter than end portions 114, 116 as shown, in order to better fit through eyelets in sneakers, shoes, or other footwear, and to assist with lacing shoestring 100 to such footwear. In other words, shoestring 100 may be configured with a constant taper between end portion 114 and center portion 112, between end portion 116 and center portion 112, along a portion of end portion 114 at convex end 118, and along a portion of end portion 116 at convex end 120 as shown. In certain embodiments, convex ends 118, 120 may define respective cross sections which are the same size as or smaller than the cross section of center portion 112. (along which the cross-section decreases). In other embodiments, center portion 112 may include a cross-section at a midpoint thereof which is the narrowest cross-section of the entire shoestring 100.

In this manner, convex ends, which may taper to a point or knub/protuberance as shown, may be more easily threaded through standard eyelets in footwear and/or through loops of items which attach to shoestring 100. For example, once shoestring 100 is laced on a shoe but not yet tied, various types of indicia may be attached to shoestring 100 by threading convex ends 118, 120 therethrough (e.g., through a small plastic or metal circular attachment hook or looped end to which the indicia is attached). In this manner, various forms of logos and advertisements may be threaded along shoestring 100.

Shoestring 100′ (FIG. 3B) is identical to shoestring 100, except that shoestring 100′ is formed with different colors than shoestring 100. For example, similar to the differences in coloring between shoestring 10 and shoestring 10′, first and second ends 114, 116 of shoestring 100 may be colored yellow and center portion 112 of shoestring 100 may be colored black, while first and second ends 114′, 116′ of shoestring 100′ may be colored blue and center portion 112′ may be colored red. Other colors and color combinations of shoestring 100 may be utilized.

The present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology selected, and it will be understood that each specific element referenced includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner. However, techniques, methods, systems, and operating structures in accordance with the invention may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiments. Consequently, the specific structural, functional and step-by-step details disclosed herein are merely representative. The embodiments herein are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood that logical, mechanical, and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The detailed description disclosed herein is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.

It will be understood that the above-described embodiments and arrangements are merely illustrative of the many possible specific embodiments which represent applications of the present invention, and that numerous and varied other arrangements and configurations can be readily devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and equivalents thereof 

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoestring, comprising: a center portion; a first end portion on a first side of the center portion; and a second portion on a second side of the center portion opposite the first side, wherein the shoestring is made from elastically deformable silicone and defines a first taper from the first end portion to the center portion.
 2. A shoestring according to claim 1, wherein the shoestring defines a second taper from the second end portion to the center portion.
 3. A shoestring according to claim 2, wherein the first taper and the second taper are identical.
 4. A shoestring according to claim 2, wherein the first taper and the second taper are constant.
 5. A shoestring according to claim 4, wherein the cross-section of the shoestring increases in size in an axial direction between the center portion and the first end portion.
 6. A shoestring according to claim 5, wherein the first end portion includes an additional taper defining a constant reduction in cross section in an axial direction at a convex end.
 7. A shoestring according to claim 6, wherein the convex end includes a cross-section no larger than a cross-section of the center portion.
 8. A shoestring according to claim 1, wherein the center portion is colored with a first color, and the first and second end portions are each colored with a second color different from the first color.
 9. A shoestring according to claim 8, wherein an intensity of the second color increases along each of the first and second end portions in an axial direction away from the center portion.
 10. A shoestring according to claim 9, further comprising: a first aglet attached to the first end portion; and a second aglet attached to the second end portion, wherein the first and second aglets are colored with a third color different from the first and second colors.
 11. A shoestring according to claim 8, wherein the first and second end portions each have a respective length which is approximately one quarter of a total length of the shoestring, and the center portion has a length which is approximately one half of the total length of the shoestring.
 12. A shoestring according to claim 1, wherein the shoestring is narrowest at the center portion, and progressively thicker toward each of the first and second end portions.
 13. A shoestring according to claim 12, wherein a cross section of the shoestring at a midpoint of the center portion defines an outer diameter which is less than half of an outer diameter of a cross section of the shoestring at the first end portion.
 14. A shoestring according to claim 13, wherein the shoestring has an overall length of approximately thirty-three inches, a cross-section with an outer diameter of approximately 0.25 inches at the midpoint, and a cross-section with an outer diameter of approximately 0.6 inches at the first end portion.
 15. A shoestring according to claim 1, wherein the center portion, the first end portion, and the second end portion are integrally formed with one another. 